AJ McCarron’s time with the Cincinnati Bengals is most likely about to end. The 27-year-old quarterback recently won his grievance with the team, which means he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and could potentially get a big payday to start for another team.
McCarron didn’t get a ton of opportunities to play in his four years in Cincy because of Andy Dalton. But as he tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McCarron considers that experience backing up Dalton in a more positive light.
“I think it’s a blessing in disguise, really and truly, just because coming from ‘Bama and being the guy for so long and then falling in the draft the way I did,” McCarron said. “I think my wife said it best, it humbled me and it taught me patience more than I could ever imagine. It’s always tough as a competitor to sit there and see how things are going, but I think the biggest thing is be ready and make the most of it when the time comes.”
McCarron played a total of 12 games (including playoffs) with three starts in his four years backing up Dalton with the Bengals. That includes some decent performances in the eight games he featured in back in 2015 when Dalton went down with an injury.
However, it’s easy to forget that despite a glittering college career in Alabama, he wasn’t exactly a highly-rated quarterback prospect. That was why he dropped all the way to the fifth round in the draft. He needed time in order to develop into a true starter-caliber NFL quarterback, and he got all the time he needed with the Bengals.
The big question now is whether McCarron actually did develop as he was patiently waiting his turn behind Dalton in Cincy. Any team willing give him a contract this offseason will have to take that risk and see whether he’ll end up being the next Jimmy Garoppolo or the next Mike Glennon.
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